Back Home!

And man, am I jet-lagged out! I kept popping awake at odd hours last night and wondering where I was. LOL! Anyway, it was a great opportunity to "get inside" a big company like Armscor/Rock Island Armory. I don't like the package trips with 20 other journalists...I much prefer one-on-one, where I have a chance to sit down with the manufacturing manager, the QA guys, people in research and

Back To Normal...

...such as it is, with Wednesday's podcast. Looking at new products for SHOT this week.-- Post From The Road

Out Of Here Today!

Did an interview with one of my counterpart television shows here in the Philippines late yesterday after an afternoon in Batanga in search of the illusive street balisong. If I'd had time I would have visited with the famous knifesmiths, but as it happens I have a gun, not a knife, show...also didn't have Michael Janich as my tour guide, LOL!

If I could figure out a way to I port Philippine

Range Time with the Armscor/Rock Island .22 TCM

In short, pretty cool! A hoot to shoot -- very little recoil (say .22 Magnum-ish), big muzzle flash and seriously loud. Forty grain bullet @ 2000 fps out of 5-inch 1911. Great performance in gellatin...I think you're starting to get up into hydrostatic shock country, but we didn't have the ultra-high speed camera on this one. Have a high-speed session scheduled in early January, and I'll run the

Busy, Busy week!

Will post when I can...sorry about Podcast repeat...hey, only my 4th in 293 weeks!

Moron of the Day Alert!

And our "Dumb As A Sack Of Rocks" weekly media prize goes to Fox sportswriter Jason Whitlock for his laughingly stupid piece on the murder/suicide of NFL linebacker Jovan Belcher. So this scumbag Belcher, who happens to work for the NFL, kills his wife, apologizes to his teammates and kills himself in front of his coaches. Read Whitlock's paean to the Zen of Football...try to keep from laughing,

MORRISSEY: Jovan Belcher tragedy should bring renewed scrutiny to NFL - Chicago Sun-Times

BY RICK MORRISSEY rmorrissey@suntimes.com December 1, 2012 9:08PM Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher committed suicide outside the team's practice facility after murdering his girlfriend. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who played in college at Maine, was in his fourth NFL season. | AP storyidforme: 40986368tmspicid: 15146964fileheaderid: 6881196 Updated: December 1, 2012 9:31PM

Jovan Belcher was 'natural born leader' - New York Daily News

kasandraperkins via Instagram Jovan Belcher (right) with Kasandra Perkins and their daughter Zoe. Picture taken on October 31, 2012, on Kasandra Perkins' instagram account (kasandraperkins). He was one of West Babylon High School's most famous sons, the uber-talented gridiron great who returned every year to give motivational speeches.Now Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher is dead

Cops: Jovan Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs player from Long Island, kills ... - Newsday

Originally published: December 1, 2012 12:24 PMUpdated: December 1, 2012 9:38 PMBy BOB GLAUBER  bob.glauber@newsday.com Photo credit: Handout and Daniel Brennan | Left: In this handout photo, Kasandra Perkins and Jovan Belcher smile for the camera. Right: Belcher's family and friends gather at his memorial in front of his childhood home in West Babylon. (Dec. 1, 2012) KANSAS CITY, Mo. --

Jovan Belcher: Kansas City Chiefs Football Player Snaps - Daily Beast

A photo on 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins's Facebook page shows a young woman smiling broadly as she holds her new baby daughter Zoey. More photos depict the pretty mother with her boyfriend of two years, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, their baby daughter in his hands. In an earlier post, she captioned a photo of Belcher: "In love with Superman."  Ed Zurga / AP Photo The

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher kills girlfriend, self - Chicago Tribune

Chiefs Player Involved in Murder-Suicide (Posted Dec. 1st, 2012)KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The NFL was left reeling in horror on Saturday after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher murdered his girlfriend and committed suicide.The 25-year-old Belcher shot Kasandra Perkins at their home on Saturday morning then drove his car to the team's training facility near Arrowhead Stadium and turned the gun

Kansas City Chiefs Player Jovan Belcher Kills Self in Front of Coaches, Police ... - ABC News

Jovan Belcher, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, committed suicide today in front of his coaches and police officers outside the team's stadium, shortly after he fatally shot his girlfriend, police said. "We heard that they had been arguing in the past [and] as far as recently, they'd been arguing before the shooting occurred this morning," Kansas City Police spokesman Darin Snapp told

Tragedy leaves more questions - FOXSports.com

Updated Dec 1, 2012 5:06 PM ET Just before Thanksgiving, Jovan Belcher spoke about how grateful he was for his family, friends and Kansas City Chiefs coaches — those who helped an undrafted free agent linebacker from Maine become an NFL starter. "First and foremost, God. Family and friends just keeping me focused, coaches and just everyone," Belcher said in an interview with

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher kills girlfriend, self - Chicago Tribune

Chiefs Player Involved in Murder-Suicide (Posted Dec. 1st, 2012) KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher this morning shot and killed his girlfriend before going to Arrowhead Stadium and fatally shooting himself as team personnel tried to stop him, police said.Police Capt. David Lindaman said Belcher, 25, and his girlfriend, 22, got into an argument around 7 a.m. at their

Javon Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, killed girlfriend, then self ... - CBS News

This is a 2012 photo of Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football team. This image reflects the Kansas City Chiefs active roster as of Thursday, July 5, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) / AP Photo (AP) KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend early Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of

Jovan Belcher was an All-American wrestler before turning to football - CBSSports.com (blog)

On Saturday morning, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend and then drove to the team's practice facility, where he took his own life. He was 25. In 2009, after a stellar four-year career at the University of Maine, Jovan Belcher signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He grew up on Long Island and attended West Babylon High School, where he was a three-time All-American

Cops: Jovan Belcher, Kansas City Chiefs player from Long Island, kills ... - Newsday

Originally published: December 1, 2012 12:24 PMUpdated: December 1, 2012 1:42 PMBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND BOB GLAUBER  bob.glauber@newsday.com Photo credit: AP | Kansas City Chiefs' Jovan Belcher (59) stands on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2012) KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police said Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan

Jovan Belcher was a star wrestler before reaching the NFL - Kansas City Star

Jovan Belcher didn't take the most direct route to the NFL. He was a standout wrestler in high school and wasn't highly recruited by colleges as a football player. Even after a four-year career at the University of Maine in which he almost became the national defensive player of the year, Belcher's name wasn't called in the NFL Draft.But the Chiefs signed him as an undrafted free agent in May

Jovan Belcher Commits Suicide At Chiefs' Facility After Fatally Shooting ... - Huffington Post

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend and then took his own life outside the team's facility on Saturday morning, according to various reports. As reported by KCTV in Kansas City, police confirm that a 25-year-old Chiefs player shot and killed his girlfriend at a private residence before taking his own life outside the team's facility. According to the Kansas

University of Alabama Football Report for 12/01/12: SEC Championship Edition

Roll Tide.

Reports: Kansas City Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher kills girlfriend, then self - Washington Post (blog)

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, right, shown in 2011 against the Miami Dolphins. (Getty Images) Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher reportedly shot and killed his girlfriend in Kansas City, Mo., then shot and killed himself Saturday at the team's practice facility near Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday morning. Kansas City police have confirmed that the player was Belcher.

Ronda Rousey and What Happens If She Loses Her UFC Debut - Bleacher Report

There is not one MMA fan that frequents Bleacher Report that does not know Ronda Rousey has become the first female mixed martial artist to sign with the UFC. If I just broke the news to you, then you should also know Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, Anderson Silva is on a bit of a winning streak and Chael Sonnen will soon be fighting Jon Jones. Women's MMA has surged in 2012 with the help of

Nolan Daniels Powerball Hoax: Man Posts Fake Lottery Ticket To Facebook ... - Huffington Post

2 minutes ago (10:38 AM) What a loser, on both ends.. star15022: What a loser, on both ends.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/star15022/nolan-daniels-powerball-hoax-winner-facebook_n_2220610_210225362.html History  | Permalink  | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this

Ronda Rousey and What Happens If She Loses Her UFC Debut - Bleacher Report

There is not one MMA fan that frequents Bleacher Report that does not know Ronda Rousey has become the first female mixed martial artist to sign with the UFC. If I just broke the news to you, then you should also know Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, Anderson Silva is on a bit of a winning streak and Chael Sonnen will soon be fighting Jon Jones. Women's MMA has surged in 2012 with the help of

Don't be fooled: That winning Powerball ticket photo is a hoax - UPI.com (blog)

A Facebook user named Nolan Daniels posted a photo of himself holding a "winning" Powerball ticket. It's a fake, but that hasn't stopped a million people from sharing it 24 hours after it first went online. Published: Nov. 30, 2012 at 8:06 PM By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com An old adage tells us that we should believe only half of what we read and a quarter of what we read online. It doesn't

Ronda Rousey and What Happens If She Loses Her UFC Debut - Bleacher Report

There is not one MMA fan that frequents Bleacher Report that does not know Ronda Rousey has become the first female mixed martial artist to sign with the UFC. If I just broke the news to you, then you should also know Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, Anderson Silva is on a bit of a winning streak and Chael Sonnen will soon be fighting Jon Jones. Women's MMA has surged in 2012 with the help of

Ronda Rousey: 'I try to have as much sex as possible before I fight' - Yahoo! Sports (blog)

UFC/Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey appeared on Jim Rome's show on Wednesday. What does the champion use as her training secret? Does she have high-level training methods not available to amateur athletes and workout warriors? (Getty)Nope. She likes to have as much sex as possible before fights. Though Mick advised Rocky that women weaken the legs, Rousey believes it has

Lohan's alleged sucker-punch victim hires high-profile attorney - New York Daily News

Michael Schwartz for New York Daily News Tiffany  Mitchell, who was allegedly assaulted by Lindsay Lohan yesterday, leaves 799 Madison Avenue wit h her husband this morning and gets into car service auto.Fri.,November 30th,2012 Manhattan,New York. LiLo's latest victim has lawyered up — and that could mean more legal woes for the endlessly troubled "Mean Girl." Florida psychic Tiffany

Lindsay Lohan's Attorney Says Actress 'Will Be Exonerated' - ABC News

Lindsay Lohan's legal team believes the 26-year-old actress "will be totally exonerated" after she was charged with misdemeanor assault Thursday. Attorney Mark Heller also told ABC News that Lohan is "a victim of someone trying to capture their 15 minutes of fame." Lohan hasn't been seen in public since leaving New York City's 10th precinct Thursday morning, and hasn't commented on the four

Lindsay Lohan's Fight: Will Actress Be Barred From New York Nightclub? - Huffington Post

Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan at the "The Parent Trap" Los Angeles Premiere on July 2, 1998. Lindsay Lohan Actress Lindsay Lohan attends a private screening of 'Dinner with Friends' July 28, 2001 in Southhampton, New York. (Photo by George De Sota/Getty Images) Lindsay Lohan Actress Lindsay Lohan attends the film premiere of 'Treasure Planet' at The Cinerama Dome on November 17, 2002

Lindsay Lohan's Attorney Says Actress 'Will Be Exonerated' - ABC News

Lindsay Lohan's legal team believes the 26-year-old actress "will be totally exonerated" after she was charged with misdemeanor assault Thursday. Attorney Mark Heller also told ABC News that Lohan is "a victim of someone trying to capture their 15 minutes of fame." Lohan hasn't been seen in public since leaving New York City's 10th precinct Thursday morning, and hasn't commented on the four

Lindsay Lohan not on drugs, is a 'victim,' her attorney says - Los Angeles Times

Lindsay Lohan, who faces charges in New York and Santa Monica, is a "victim" and was not on drugs at the time of her latest arrest, her attorney said. Lohan was charged Thursday with three misdemeanors for allegedly lying to Santa Monica police in connection with a June traffic accident on Pacific Coast Highway.The charges came hours after the "Mean Girls" and "The Parent Trap" actress was

"Doctrine" on Potentially Armored Aggressors

Read the last post, especially the second comment on the alleged "armored" aggressor in the Aurora shooting. As you all know, the aggressor was only wearing "tacticool" wardrobe items — no soft or plate armor. What I have said on the podcast and what we will say on TBD is that when faced with an aggressor who appears to be armored, TAKE THE CENTER MASS SHOTS IMMEDIATELY. If the aggressor is

Another "Must Read"...

...this one from December's Atlantic Magazine by Jeffrey Goldberg:

Boulder may be the locus of left-wing politics in Colorado, but it is also home to the oversubscribed Boulder Rifle Club, which I visited on a bright early-fall morning with Dave Kopel, of the Independence Institute. The existence of the rifle club surprised me, given Boulder’s reputation. But Kopel argued that gun ownership and

A Comforting Presence

Spent the evening filming openings and closings for THE BEST DEFENSE in a seedy area of a big urban downtown...the SR9c was definitely a comforting presence! Am getting ready for Friday's "live studio audience" session for SG. Response has been so great we may split up the session and do a second session end of January.So Black Friday set a 1-day record for NICS checks, so much so that it briefly

An Important Article one"Assault Weapons"

This is a great article in the Captain's Journal blog on "assault weapons." Read it all and give it some thought...





Arguing that their bans don’t adequately distinguish between weapons leads them to refine their ban.  Arguing that there is equivalent lethality between weapons denies aspects of utility and design, and only causes them to ban weapons that have specific utility for home and

Thanksgiving Weekend Wrap-Up

The quick executive summary? I need another 4 days off...maybe 8 days...a month...LOL! Yesterday my Sweetie and I went up to the site of the new Secret Hidden Bunker, where the dirt work is well underway. We now have a driveway and the beginnings of a house platform! I do wish a genie could wiggle her cute little nose and the whole new Bunker would miraculously appear. Second wish would be to dig

Gordon Davis, R.I.P.

I note the passing of master holster maker, and my friend, Gordon Davis, after a long illness. In these days of floods of high quality holsters, it's hard to image how important Gordie's magnificent holsters were for both the fledgling sport of practical pistol — "combat shooting," in the into of the times — and concealed carry. I remember when I filly scraped up enough money to buy my first

University of Alabama Football for 11/23/12

Beat Auburn.

Roll Tide.

And a Happy Thanksgiving for All!

Our dinner went super. hey, how can you go wrong with lobster tails, stir-fired veggies, sweet potatoes roasted with chili, cranberries with sour cherries and rum, fresh rolls and...wait for it...wait for it...a homemade Boston creme pie. Yes, it rocked!

Going to do some 3-gun shooting tomorrow, then I swear I'm going to sleep until noon on Saturday. Maybe until 2 or 3 PM, getting ready for the

Busily Trying to Relax!

My plan for yesterday was catch up, then knock off for the Thanksgiving week. Ha! Today my plan is to catch up, then knock off for the Thanksgiving week. Tomorrow my plan is...you kinda get the drift. I've got to cook Wednesday, or at least cook a little Wednesday. Hopefully, I'll be doing a little 3-Gun shooting this weekend, then begin the sprint to the end of the year...well, at least until

Appleseed Weekend!

It was really really fun, and I am really really tired! Appleseed Colorado Coordinators Jim and Kim Heath did a marvelous job, Colorado Rifle Club is a super venue and the weather was just amazing. Not to mention a great group of instructors and participants.

It's going to make a great SHOOTING GALLERY!

The Spike's/JP .22 AR may be the best .22 rifle I've every shot. Certainly among the top 3.

On The Phone All Day...Sigh...

...so aborted trip to the range...I go to Appleseed with 2 rifles without a clue as to their zero. Sigh. Maybe sigh twice. Shouldn't take too long to sight them in, though. BTW, I'm doing the best I can to deal with the Twinkie Apocalypse...




I did have a long time on the phone today with Mark Keefe from AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, in which we never actually mentioned Twinkies. Mark is a really good

Range Day (I Hope!)

The temperature is creeping up and the clouds seem to be moving out, so hopefully I'll be able to get rifles sighted in this afternoon. We're in kind of the pre-SHOT doldrums in the industry...people are frantically trying to get their catalogs done, collateral material printed and party invitations all sync'ed up. I'm trying to get both SHOOTING GALLERY and THE BEST DEFENSE wrapped before the

Fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

So I ordered some OC to spray the pooches. I'm willing to go OC in the left hand, gat in the right. I'm also thinking of getting Alf an Ithaca Auto & Burglar with stocks cut to fit her little paws. Or maybe one of those little Danish grenades that only have a 3-foot kill radius. She could hook her little claw into the pin, then bombs away! The world's first Assault Beagle! Except Alf doesn't like

Generally Icchy Day

Sigh...working like crazy getting ready for the SHOOTING GALLERY studio sessions in Denver (you're coming , right?). Also spent time on the phone working on finding financing for the new Secret Hidden Bunker, with a little light at the end of the tunnel...maybe.

Had a little problem this afternoon. My Sweetie and I were walking Alf the Wonder Beagle up a trail. As you remember, Alf got ripped by

Busy Busy...

...getting started on the new, improved Secret Hidden Bunker. At least, we broke ground on the driveway and house platform, plus fired a few rounds of .22 on the property to give it a little lead inoculation. Our original plan was to build an off-grid house...we're still headed in that direction, but to say that the banks are less than enthused is being kind. Friggin' liberals talk a good game

Veterans' Day 2013

Battle flag of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers, the "Iron Brigade"

Antietam Battlefield

September 17, 1862

More than anything else, our thoughts and prayers today are with our troops on far-flung battlefields, fighting wars of no consequence for a government that has long since stopped caring.

We owe a debt we can never pay. To all who serve now and have served, thank you.

University of Alabama Football Report for 11/09/12

… locating beauty and art and magic and improvement and keys
to excellence and victory in the prolix flux of match play is not a fractal
matter of reducing chaos to pattern … not a reduction at all, but—perversely—of
expansion.

 --David Foster Wallace, Infinite
Jest







One of the unique things about football as a spectator sport
is that its non-fluid pace of play offers constant strategic

Moving On...

...which is about the only thing I can think of to do. A dear friend, himself a legend in law enforcement,   told me many many years ago (and late at night, I might add) that the greatest challenge of his life was to find a way to live in a world he neither agreed with, liked, nor truly understood...a world that that had no place for people like him. I've been thinking a lot about that

And So the Battle is Joined...

Honestly, I was just too depressed to post earlier today. But we pick ourselves up and get ready for the battle to cone. And it's coming quickly. Obviously, the first thrust is the damned U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. This looks like the fastest way for the Dems to rev up the gun control wars; it will fail, this time.   The Senate as presently constituted is not going to ratify this abortion. I think

Vote!

Nothing more to say, is there?

Escape From Texas!

Home from Comin' At Cha, the big cowboy action shooting regional in English, Texas, that we filmed for SHOOTING GALLERY 2013. What a great great match! I have to say that if you're a cowboy action shooter who hasn't traveled to any big national matches, you could not have a better experience than at Comin' At Cha. T-Bone Dooley and his Dooley Gang do a magnificent job of not just running a

University of Alabama Football Report for 11/03/12: Live from Death Valley

To assess a collegiate football game on the first weekend of November has become an effort in spirit writing. For, much like Yeats's bride, who took a fever and penciled an outline of the afterlife, one's interest can no longer be satisfied within the visible world alone, but must take to the empty talk of myth and magic. Such delicate notions to be cast out of a brutish game, like a blacksmith's

University of Alabama Football Report for 10/20/12: where are they now edition

Erik Ainge is a piece of shit.

Roll Tide.

University of Alabama Football Report for 10/12/12

Compromise is essential to building a successful life. For example, in a perfect world, Beano Cook would be bludgeoned to death with both of Ron Powlus's Heismans. Alas, we live in a compromised world, where Powlus is a punchline, Maryland fell far short of the national championship, and Cook is mundanely, mortally, and mulishly dead.

Cook will be remembered (which is in itself a marvel today)

University of Alabama Football Report for 9/28/12

“Living on the road, my friend, was gonna keep you free and clean…”
--Townes Van Zandt, “Pancho and Lefty”

Anyone who’s spent time on the road knows that Townes was full of shit. Life on the road metes out its tortures at a high price and with ever increasing filth. An unapologetic panorama of rude people, ugly buildings, and ruinous food.

Companions make it not one bit easier. The road is

University of Alabama Football Report for 9/15/12 is a game time decision

Were I a betting man (ah ha ha ha), Tyler Wilson won't be taking the field today. Were I an athletic director, I'd fire a coach who'd even consider it. Especially against Alabama's front seven, who are hellbenders for the denizens of the backfield.

In many ways, it's too bad John L. Smith is already fired, hired to be fired, really. He's an almost too perfect fit for Arkansas football. Living on

University of Alabama Football Report for 9/07/12

“A thousand tickets? I’ll buy them and give them away. We can’t sell out with all the games we’ve won?”--Alabama head football coach Nick Saban
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, then we'd likely not be speaking like this. But here we both are, so let's cut to the chase.

I've never been good at the whole "teaching lessons" thing, mainly, I think, because I associate it with having,

University of Alabama Football Report for 8/31/12

"I don't know why all this shit about wanting to hear about the football all the time..."from Infinite Jest

It's hard to comprehend for the old-timers. Why a team from Alabama would want to play a team from Michigan in Texas. And not just any Texas either, but Dallas, Texas. Maybe the most Texasy part of Texas.

To tell them that doing so is for the benefit of sportswriters in New York and high

University of Alabama Football Report for 7/22/12: SEC Media Days Hangover Edition

If you were to wander into Birmingham's Avondale Brewery the other night and stumble upon the SEC Media Days' de facto after party, no one would blame you for thinking you'd hit the snooze button on your Zombie Apocalypse Alarm Clock.

However, the slow-moving, slack-faced, murmuring herd sloshing shoulder-to-shoulder from bar to bathroom aren't, technically, the undead. They're what's left of

University of Alabama Football Report for 5/04/2012

 


List of things MCA destroys in the "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)" video, in order:



Beer can 
Popular Mechanics magazine 
Framed wall art 
Pie 
Acoustic guitar 
White button-down 
Dog's self-esteem 
Television 



 Roll Tide.

University of Alabama Football Report for 4/13/12: A-Day Preview

Six years running into the present regime, no one questions the normalcy of our lunacy, or vice versa. With another capacity crowd expected at Alabama’s open scrimmage tomorrow, the only news is that it’s not news. It’s a relativist’s paradise, or nightmare. Who can tell?

Maybe Michael Robbins, whose greatly anticipated collection of poems (yes, such a thing), Alien vs. Predator, was released

University of Alabama Football Report for 1/09/12: National Championship Edition

There are no second acts in American lives.
--F. Scott Fitzgerald

This game's not about me. . . . It doesn't define who I am as a person.
--Nick Saban

Even the most ardent Alabama supporter has to feel a little bad for LSU. How many times do they have to beat Alabama? Wasn't the first time difficult enough? But second chances being such a rare commodity these days, it would be impolite to